Feeding system for automatic firearms with a rotary drum

ABSTRACT

1. In a firearm, the combination comprising a rotatable drum, annular channels in the drum, a plurality of chambers formed in said drum for radially receiving cartridges thereinto, and a magazine arranged for replaceable installation in the firearm in communication with said chambers, said magazine including a feeding compartment for holding a stack of cartridges, means for biasing the stack of cartridges towards said chambers, a retrieval compartment for receiving fired cases of the cartridges, a spring-biased follower slidingly disposed in said retrieval compartment for controlling the positions of the fired cases therein, a partition separating said supply compartment and said retrieval compartment, and fingers extending from said partition into said channels for guiding the cartridges into said chambers and ejecting the fired cases therefrom into said retrieval compartment.

United States Patent 1 Ouellette FEEDING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS WITH A ROTARY DRUM [75] Inventor: Herve J. Ouellette, Springfield, Mass.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC.

221 Filed: Dec. 13, 1963 211 App]. No.: 330,506

[52] U.S. Cl. 42/50, 89/33 MC, 89/33 BA [5l] Int. Cl. F4ld 7/04 [58] Field of Search 89/33; 42/49, 50,

Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly, Herbert Berl and Albert E. Arnold, Jr.

[451 July 24, 1973 EXEMPLARY CLAIM 1. In a firearm, the combination comprising a rotatable drum, annular channels in the drum, a plurality of chambers formed in said drum fior radially receiving cartridges thereinto, and a magazine arranged for replaceable installation in the firearm in communication with said chambers, said magazine including a feeding compartment for holding a stack of cartridges, means for biasing the stack of cartridges towards said chambers, a retrieval compartment for receiving fired cases of the cartridges, a spring-biased follower slidingly disposed in said retrieval compartment for controlling the positions of the fired cases therein, a partition separating said supply compartment and said retrieval compartment, and fingers extending from said partition into said channels for guiding the cartridges into said chambers and ejecting the fired cases therefrom into said retrieval compartment.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures I FEEDING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS WITH A ROTARY DRUM The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to firearms and pertains more particularly to the feeding mechanisms thereof which include box-type magazines.

It is one object of this invention to provide for firearms having a chambered drum adapted for receiving cartridges radially thereinto a magazine which feeds cartridges radially to the drum and receives the fired cases radially therefrom.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a magazine with retainers for releasably holding the cartridges and/or fired cases in the magazine when removed from the gun.

It is a further object of this invention to arrange the retainers so as to automatically release the cartridges for feeding when the magazine is fully installed in the firearm.

It is still another object of this invention to arrange the retainers so that they will also act to hold the magazine in the firearm when fully installed therein.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinally crosssectioned side view of a rifle showing the feeding mechanism of this invention installed therein;

FIGS. 2-4 are taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and progressively show the feeding of the cartridges in the magazine to the drum and the ejection of the fired cases from the drum into the magazine;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the magazine showing one of the retainers mounted therein;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary end view of the magazine; and

FIGS. 7-9 are enlarged fragmentary views similar to FIGS. 2-4 but progressively showing the cooperation between the channels in the magazine well and the retainers during installation of the magazine.

Shown in the figures is an automatic rifle 12 designed for use with self-supporting cartridges 14 which do not need chamber support when discharged to prevent eruption of the case. Rifle 12 includes a receiver 16 having a drum cavity 18 and a magazine well 20 which extends upwardly into communication therewith, a drum 22 rotatively mounted in the drum cavity, a recoil actuated sliding member 28 adapted to successively rotate the drum, through means not shown, 120 in a counterclockwise direction responsive to each discharge of the rifle, and a barrel 30.

Drum 22 is provided with three semicylindrical chambers 32 which are spaced 120 apart therein and are arranged to be alignable with barrel 30 when in the l2 o'clock firing position. Each of the chambers 32 is provided with a mouth portion 34 which permits radial entry of the cartridges 14 thereinto and the ejection of the fired cases 36 therefrom as shown in FIGS. 2-4. Cartridges 14 are retained in the associated chambers 32 during rotation to the 12 oclock firing position and fired cases 36 are retained in the chambers during rotation therefrom by a circular guide wall 38 which encircles drum 22, except where interrupted by magazine well 20, to form the perimeter of drum cavity 18.

Cartridges 14 are fed to chambers 32 from a magazine 40, the upper end of which is received by magazine well 20, and fired cases 36 are returned into the magazine, as hereinafter described.

Magazine 40 is of a box-type and includes two compartments including a feeding compartment 42 and a retrieval compartment 44. Feeding compartment 42 is for storing a stack of cartridges l4 and it is positioned for feeding the cartridges to drum 22. Retrieval compartment 44 is for receiving the fired cases 36 from drum 22. Compartments 42 and 44 are separated by a partition 46. A pair of fingers 48 extend outwardly from partition 46 so as to be received by a pair of annular channels 49 formed in drum 22 to aid in guiding cartridges 14 into chambers 32 and extracting fired cases 36 therefrom.

Slidingly mounted in feeding compartment 42 is a first follower 50 which is biased upwardly by a spring 52 to push the cartridges 14 from the feeding compartment into chambers 32. A second follower 54 is slidingly mounted in retrieval compartment 44 and is bi ased upwardly therein by a spring 56 to control the positions of fired cases 36 when received therein.

With cartrides 14 having to be delivered radially from magazine 40 into chambers 32, the problem arises as to means for retaining the cartridges in feeding compartment 42 against the bias of spring 52 when the magazine is not fully installed in the rifle 12 and for releasing the cartridges so as to feed into the chambers when the magazine is fully installed in magazine well 20. That problem is successfully resolved by rotatively mounting on opposite sides of magazine 40 a pair of retainers 58 which releasably hold cartridges l4 and fired cases 36 in the magazine and which are respectively disposed for cooperation with a pair of latches 60 for releasably holding the magazine in; magazine well 20 as hereinafter described.

Formed in each side of magazine well 20, where joined to receiver 16, is a U-shaped channel 62 which is longitudinally disposed and which opens laterally into the magazine well. Channels 62 respectively include a bottom side 63 and a top side 64 which overhang the bottom side, for a reason to be hereinafter explained, and a planar surface 66 extends upwardly and inwardly from each of the top sides to form a fulcrum point 67.

Latches 60 are each pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the outside of magazine well 20 so as to form a lower actuator portion 68 and an upper latching portion 70. The upper ends of latching portions 70 are received by corresponding slots 72 in channels 62 to engageably cooperate with the related ones of the retainers 58. A lug 74 protrudes inwardly from the end of each of the latching portions 70 and a spring 76 operationally cooperates with each of the latches 60 to press the lug into the respective one of the channels 62. Lugs 74 are displaced from channels 62 by pressing inwardly against the actuator portions 68.

Retainers 58 include a right-hand retainer 78 and a lefthand retainer 80 which are associated respectively with feeding compartment 42 and retrieval compartment 44. Retainers 58 are each mounted for limited rotational displacement on a pin 82 which is held by the outwardly rolled edge of the respective side of magazine 40 so that the axes of the retainers are located outside such sides. A clearance 84 with an edge 85 is provided in each of the rolled edges to receive the respective one of the retainers 58. Right-hand retainer 78 is of triangular configuration in cross-section and includes a holding wing 90, which extends into feeding compartment 42 for blocking contact by the top cartridge 14 therein, an actuator-locking wing 92, and a connecting side 93. A spring 94 biases righthand retainer 78 in a counterclockwise direction which movement is limited by contact of holding wing 90 with the associated edge 85. When right-hand retainer 78 is in contact with the associated edge 85, holding wing 90 is so angularly related to the radius of cartridge 14 at the 1 point of contact (see FIG..6) that the upper thrust of the cartridges by spring 52 is converted to counterclockwise bias of right-hand retainer 78 against such edge to securely block the cartridges against upward displacement.

Left-hand retainer 80 is oppositely similar to righthand retainer 78 and includes a holding wing 98, which extends into retrieval compartment 44 for blocking contact with the top one of the fired cases 36 therein, an actuator-locking wing 100 and a connecting side A spring 102 biases left-hand retainer 80 in a clockwise direction with such movement being limited by contact of holding wing 90 with the associated edge 85.

Thus, when magazine 40 is loaded, the stack of cartridges 14 in feeding compartment 42 is releasably held therein by right-hand retainer 78 and retrieval com-- partment 44 is empty. Magazine 40 is installed in rifle 12 by inserting top of the magazine into magazine well and pressing inwardly. When magazine 40 is nearly pressed into fully installed position, the ends of the actuatorlock wings 92 and 100 contact the overhanging portions of top sides 64 of channels 62 (FIG. 7) to commence rotation of retainers 58. Continued inward movement of magazine 40 transfers the points of contact between retainers 58 and top sides 64 to fulcrum points 67 and sides 93 and 101 (FIG. 8) so that rotation of the retainers is continued. As right-hand retainer 78 and left-hand retainer 80 are rotated, actuator-holding wings 92 and 100 are rotated against lugs 74 of the latches 60 causing the lugs to be displaced outwardly.

When magazine 40 is fully inserted, actuator holding wings 92 and 100 are in contact with the related bottom sides 63 of the channels 62 with the ends of such wings positioned under the lugs 74. Springs 76 are arranged to overpower springs 94 and 102 so that retainers 58 are resiliently held against displacement and magazine 40 is locked thereby in fully installed position (FIG. 9). Also, holding wings 90 and 98 are displaced so as to free cartridges 14 in supply compartment 42 for feeding into chambers 32 and so as to permit the entry'of fired cases 36 into retrieval compartment 44.

During operation of rifle l2, cartridges 14 are fed into the chambers 32 from feeding compartment 42, rotated to the twelve o'clock position to be fired, and then the fired cases 36 are rotated away from the 12 oclock position with fingers 48 acting to eject the fired cases into retrieval compartment 44. Magazine 40 is removed by pressing inwardly on actuator portions 68 of latches 60 which displaces lugs 74 thereon outwardly, thus freeing retainers 58 for rotation to permit withdrawal of the magazine. Springs 94 and 102 rotate retainers 58, when freed from lugs 74, so that the holding wing 90 is positioned to retain in feeding compart- 4 ment 42 any cartridges 14 which may remain therein and holding wing 98 will retain in retrieval compartment 44 any fired cases 36 therein.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim:

1. In a firearm, the combination comprising a rotatable drum, annular channels in the drum, a plurality of chambers formed in said drum for radially receiving cartridges thereinto, and a magazine arranged for replaceable installation in the firearm in communication with said chambers, said magazine including a feeding compartment for holding a stack of cartridges, means for biasing the stack of cartridges towards said chambers, a retrieval compartment for receiving fired cases of the cartridges, a spring-biased follower slidingly disposed in said retrieval compartment for controlling the positions of the fired cases therein, a partition separating said supply compartment and said retrieval compartment, and fingers extending from said partition into said channels for guiding the cartridges into said chambers and ejecting the fired cases therefrom into said retrieval compartment.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and including a pair of retainers arranged for releasably holding the cartridges in the feeding compartment and the fired cases in the retrieval compartment when said magazine is removed from the firearm, and means for actuating said retainers to release the cartridges in said feeding compartment and to permit entry of the fired cases into said retrieval compartment when said magazine is installed in the firearm.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 and including a pair of channels respectively disposed in the fire arm in cooperation with said retainers for actuation thereof when said magazine is installed in the firearm, and a pair of latches arranged in cooperation with said retainers for releasably holding said magazine against displacement in the firearm from a fully installed position after being moved thereto.

4. The combination as defined in claim 2 and including in the firearm a magazine well for receiving said magazine, a pair of channels'formed in said magazine well for respective cooperation with said retainers, bottom sides of said channels disposed for contact by said retainers when actuated by installation of said magazine into said magazine well to releasably hold said magazine therein, a lug formed on each of said latches for cooperation with the associated one of said retainers for holding said retainers in contact with said bottom sides, and top sides of said channels arranged to overhang said bottom sides so as to be contactable by said retainers when said magazine is installed in said magazine well for actuating said retainers to hold said magazine in the fully installed position.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 and including means for rotatively mounting said retainers, holding wings respectively formed in said retainers so as to be displaceable into the associated feeding compartment and retrieval compartment for blocking upward displacement of the cartridges and the fired cases therein, and actuator-locking wings respectively formed in said retainers so as to be contactable with said top sides when said magazine is moved to the fully of said retainers for biasing said retainers to a position wherein said holding wings project into the associated feeding and retrieval compartments.

l l I :1 

1. In a firearm, the combination comprising a rotatable drum, annular channels in the drum, a plurality of chambers formed in said drum for radially receiving cartridges thereinto, and a magazine arranged for replaceable installation in the firearm in communication with said chambers, said magazine including a feeding compartment for holding a stack of cartridges, means for biasing the stack of cartridges towards said chambers, a retrieval compartment for receiving fired cases of the cartridges, a spring-biased follower slidingly disposed in said retrieval compartment for controlling the positions of the fired cases therein, a partition separating said supply compartment and said retrieval compartment, and fingers extending from said partition into said channels for guiding the cartridges into said chambers and ejecting the fired cases therefrom into said retrieval compartment.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and including a pair of retainers arranged for releasably holding the cartridges in the feeding compartment and the fired cases in the retrieval compartment when said magazine is removed from the firearm, and means for actuating said retainers to release the cartridges in said feeding compartment and to permit entry of the fired cases into said retrieval compartment when said magazine is installed in the firearm.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 2 and including a pair of channels respectively disposed in the firearm in cooperation with said retainers for actuation thereof when said magazine is installed in the firearm, and a pair of latches arranged in cooperation with said retainers for releasably holding said magazine against displacement in the firearm from a fully installed position after being moved thereto.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 2 and including in the firearm a magazine well for receiving said magazine, a pair of channels formed in said magazine well for respective cooperation with said retainers, bottom sides of said channels disposed for contact by said retainers when actuated by installation of said magazine into said magazine well to releasably hold said magazine therein, a lug formed on each of said latches for cooperation with the associated one of said retainers for holding said retainers in contact with said bottom sides, and top sides of said channels arranged to overhang said bottom sides so as to be contactable by said retainers when said magazine is installed in said magazine well for actuating said retainers to hold said magazine in the fully installed position.
 5. The combination as defined in claim 4 and including means for rotatively mounting said retainers, holding wings respectively formed in said retainers so as to be displaceable into the associated feeding compartment and retrieval compartment for blocking upward displacement of the cartridges and the fired cases therein, and actuator-locking wings respectively formed in said retainers so as to be contactable with said top sides when said magazine is moved to the fully installed position in said magazine well for rotating said retainers and so as to be contactable with said bottom sides when said magazine is in the fully installed position for releasably holding said magazine therein, and a spring disposed in operational cooperation with each of said retainers for biasing said retainers to a position wherein said holding wings project into the associated feeding and retrieval compartments. 